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By Megan McQuade
The Salvation Army Western Territorial Youth department—led by Captains Roy and Paula Wild—recently started an official “Service Corps alumni” group for anyone who has ever participated in Service Corps, The Salvation Army’s short-term summer missions program for young adults.
Alumni now have the opportunity to mentor and encourage future teams traveling to the location(s) where they served.
“I was really nervous to be a leader,” said Sarah Wild of the Kauluwela (Hawaii) Mission Corps, who led a team to Kenya in June. “Having a mentor would be a great way of spiritual encouragement.”
The Youth department hopes to expand alumni activities in the future to include participation in events such as the Western Youth Institute (WYI), Boot Camp and Commissioning in hopes of bringing together those who share the unique experience of Service Corps.
“The Service Corps Alumni give you a branch of people you can reach out to before, during and after your mission trip,” said Jasmine Moody of the Hanford (Calif.) Corps, who spent last summer serving in Poland. “They can help you prepare and go through situations you may feel lost in. It’s like an extended family that fights for God.”
To sign up to be a Service Corps alumni member, visit saycause.com and click on “Service Corps” under “Opportunities” to fill out a brief survey. Follow updates on alumni activities and keep up with current teams at facebook.com/ServiceCorps.
